The following is a list of recent Anderson Regional Medical Center news articles. To read an entire article, please click on the article headline.

MERIDIAN, MS — Anderson Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce Ray Gullette, RN, BSN, MHS, has been named the new director of Horizons Geri-Psych Center at Anderson-South.

Gullette has held many positions in the areas of senior care and psychiatric care during his career. He most recently served as Director of Clinical Operations, Behavioral Health Division, for Pioneer Health Services in Magee. Prior to that, he served as the Executive Director of SilverLeaf Manor. Gullette was also employed by East Mississippi State Hospital where he served in many capacities during his 27 years of employment.

John Anderson, Vice President and Administrator of Anderson-South, said, “Ray brings a wealth of expertise to our Geri-Pych Center. His vast knowledge and experience in senior behavioral health services will be very instrumental in us continuing to provide high quality care for our patients."

Gullette has a Masters Degree in Health Science Administration from Mississippi College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Southern Mississippi. He obtained his Registered Nurse Diploma from Matty Hersee School of Nursing and an Associate of Arts Degree from Meridian Community College.

Gullette holds an array of certifications including Certified Mental Health Therapist by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. He is a Certified Public Manager, Certified Supervisor Manager, and Basic Supervisor Program Graduate with the Mississippi State Personnel Board. Gullette serves as a Primary Instructor for the Acute and Long Term Care Certified Nurse Aid Training Program, the New Employee Nurse Competency Program and the Annual Nurse Competency Program.

He is a graduate of the Leadership Essentials Program with Pioneer Health Services and the State Executive Development Institute in the John C. Stennis Institute of Government. Gullette is a member of the Mississippi Multicultural Task Force Committee.

Gullette and his wife, who is also a nurse, have two children and live in Collinsville.

Anderson Regional Medical Center is the largest health care facility in East Mississippi/West Alabama and is home to the most established heart care center and the region’s only comprehensive cancer center.

Voting begins at 12:01 a.m., Sunday, February 23, and ends at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 3. Anderson Health and Fitness Center will accept walk-in votes during regular business hours February 23-March 2 and from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 3. Mailed votes must be received by 5 p.m. March 3.

Voting is open to the general public and costs $1 per vote (min. $5 online charge). Voting is limited to persons 18 years or older. There is no limit on the amount of votes a person can cast. Your computer must accept cookies, or any successor or similar technology, which may be used for tracking. Ad blocking software on your computer needs to be disabled so that is does not interfere with processing your entry.

To vote without making a donation, send in a 3x5 postcard with your name and address to: Anderson Regional Medical Center, T-Shirt Contest, 2124 14th Street, Meridian, MS 39301. Each postcard counts as one vote.

Winner Determination: Winner will be determined by the total number of votes received. In the event of a tie, Anderson Health and Fitness Center will randomly pick the winner from the tied entries. The winner will be announced Friday, March 21, at the school the student attends.

Prize: The winner will receive a free t-shirt with his/her design.

Winner Notification: Parents/Legal Guardians of every student who submits a t-shirt design grants the right to Anderson Regional Medical Center to publish their photo online if it is one of the top 25 designs chosen. Parents/Legal Guardians of every student who submits a t-shirt design grants the right to Anderson Regional Medical Center to display the design in the hospital on race day. The winner will be required to complete a publicity release at the time of notification, in order to appear in photographs and news coverage. Failure to sign the publicity release or to comply with any terms or conditions of the official rules may result in disqualification and a substitute may be awarded.

Participation: By participating in the 2014 Anderson Cup Road Race T-shirt Design Contest, entrants are bound to the official rules and regulations. Anderson Regional Medical Center reserves the right to disqualify any persons tampering with or abusing the contest. In the event this contest is compromised by any non-authorized human intervention, tampering or other cause beyond the control of Anderson Regional Medical Center, Anderson Regional Medical Center reserves the right to suspend, modify or terminate the contest. Should the contest be terminated prior to the expiration date, Anderson Regional Medical Center reserves the right to award the prize based on the entries received before the termination date.

The 2014 Anderson Cup Road Race T-shirt Contest is sponsored by Anderson Regional Medical Center. Anderson Regional Medical Center reserves the right to make all decisions regarding the selection of winners and all other aspects of the contest. Anderson Regional Medical Center will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in the Official Rules or other materials regarding the contest.

General Refund/Cancellation Policy:

All Voting fees are non-cancellable and non-refundable. Online votes may be submitted using a valid credit card including MasterCard, Visa and Discover. Only valid, authorized credit card transactions will be considered as a legitimate vote. All authorized credit card transactions are non-cancellable and non-refundable. If your credit card is declined for any reason, no votes will be submitted on your behalf.

Enter the race today!Â Register on-line at www.active.com, download the form below, or stop by Anderson Health & Fitness Center.

As part of our ongoing efforts to raise awareness about heart disease and how to have a healthier heart, we have partnered with the American Heart Association to offer a free heart check to determine the state of your heart and what you can do to live a better, healthier life.

Some health conditions and lifestyle factors can put people at a higher risk for developing heart disease. You can help prevent heart disease by making healthy choices and managing any medical conditions you may have.

Eat a healthy diet. Choosing healthful meal and snack options can help you avoid heart disease and its complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables—adults should have at least five servings each day. Eating foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high cholesterol. Limiting salt or sodium in your diet also can lower your blood pressure. For more information on healthy diet and nutrition, visit CDC's Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Web site and ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for heart disease. To determine whether your weight is in a healthy range, doctors often calculate a number called the body mass index (BMI). Doctors sometimes also use waist and hip measurements to measure a person's body fat. If you know your weight and height, you can calculate your BMI at CDC's Assessing Your Weight Web site.

Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. For more information, see CDC's Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Web site.

Monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so be sure to have it checked on a regular basis. You can check your blood pressure at home, at a pharmacy, or at a doctor's office. Find more information at CDC's High Blood Pressure Web site.

Don't smoke. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, quit as soon as possible. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit. For more information about tobacco use and quitting, see CDC's Smoking & Tobacco Use Web site and Smokefree.gov.

Limit alcohol use. Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which can increase your blood pressure. Men should stick to no more than two drinks per day, and women to no more than one. For more information, visit CDC's Alcohol and Public Health Web site.

Have your cholesterol checked. Your health care provider should test your cholesterol levels at least once every 5 years. Talk with your doctor about this simple blood test. You can find out more from CDC's High Cholesterol Web site.

Manage your diabetes. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels closely, and talk with your doctor about treatment options. Visit CDC's Diabetes Public Health Resource for more information.

It was in the spirit of giving that the Volunteer Auxiliary began at Anderson in 1982. Each charter member gave from his or her heart to serve patients and visitors. That same spirit of compassion continues today.

A new program, "Angels on theÂ Move," is looking for volunteers. This special group of people will be visiting with patients and families throughout the hospital, offering smiles, helping hands, caring words and thoughtful services. If you or someone you know would like to be a part of this group, please call Tiffney Spence, Volunteer Coordinator, at 601-553-6392.

A volunteer can be anyone over the age of 18 with a desire to meet the needs of the community. We have retirees, students and people who wish to give their spare time to help others. All are from various backgrounds and each brings their own special experiences and a willing heart.

Need affordable health insurance?Due to the new ACA health care law, it is now available.

For the first time ever, thousands of Mississippians are able to choose an affordable health insurance plan that covers services like doctor and hospital visits, maternity care, prescriptions — and more. Due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), high-quality, low-cost health insurance is now widely available.

More about the Affordable Care Act…If you currently don’t have insurance — or if your insurance doesn’t cover the care that you need — you can now get the best health care plan at the lowest cost for you and your family. It doesn’t cost anything to apply and learn what your coverage options are. When you use the Health Insurance Marketplace, you may be able to get lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.You’re considered covered if you have Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, any job-based plan, any plan you bought yourself, COBRA, retiree coverage, TRICARE, VA health coverage or some other kinds of health coverage.If you’re eligible for job-based insurance, you can consider switching to a Marketplace plan. But you won’t qualify for lower costs based on your income unless the job-based insurance is unaffordable or doesn’t meet minimum requirements. You also may lose any contribution your employer makes to your premiums.What if I have a pre-existing condition?Being sick doesn't keep you from getting coverage. Starting in 2014, an insurance company can’t turn you down or charge you more because of your condition.

We’re here to answer your questionsAs a community educator for the new health care law, Anderson Regional Medical Center is here to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. Please call Michelle Murphy,Â Insurance Educator, at 601.553.6959 to learn more about the health care law. You may also visit www.healthcare.gov/marketplace.